It's Championship Weekend
Lone Star Player of the Week Candidates
Georgia QB Carson Beck - In perhaps the game of the season, Beck drove the Dawgs back from behind for a 44-42 win in EIGHT OVERTIMES over rival Georgia Tech. Beck was 28 of 43 for 297 yards and five touchdowns in the win. Beck spread the wealth throughout the game, completing at least two passes to TEN different pass catchers.
Colorado WR/CB Travis Hunter - The future Heisman winner had ten catches for 116 yards and three touchdowns, one tackle and one interception in a blowout 52-0 win over Oklahoma State. Hunter wrapped up the Heisman with his performance. It was his third nine reception/one interception game of the season.
Colorado QB Shadeur Sanders - Oklahoma State stood no chance against the Buffaloes as Colorado dominated the Cowboys 52-0 for win number nine. Sanders completed 34 of 41 passes for 438 yards and five touchdowns.
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Rivalry Week went about as expected. Chaos in every corner of the room. Fights over flag planting. Road upsets. Intriguing football all over the country. What a weekend it was and what a season it’s been! Let’s review the final regular season weekend then look forward to the final weekend of the season - Championship Weekend.
YES! Let’s GO!
Kinder's Texas Bowl Team of the Week - Colorado - The Buffaloes were polarizing at Big 12 Media Days and after scuffling past North Dakota State and losing to Nebraska, it didn’t appear the Buffaloes had much of a chance to get to bowl eligibility. However, Coach Prime’s squad won eight of ten to end the season, including a 52-0 smashing of Oklahoma State in Boulder. The Buffaloes won’t make the college football playoff, but the turnaround was fantastic to watch.
Kinder’s Texas Bowl Honorable mention Team of the Week - Arizona State - It’s hard to imagine a team coming more out of nowhere than Kenny Dillingham’s Sun Devils. His squad was voted last in the Big 12 out in Vegas at Media Days but will play in the Big 12 title game in Arlington this weekend against Iowa State. Last year, Arizona beat the Sun Devils by 36, but last weekend, the Sun Devils beat Arizona by 42, a 78 point turnaround.
Kinder's Texas Bowl Player of the Week - Colorado WR/CB Travis Hunter - The future Heisman winner had ten catches for 116 yards and three touchdowns, one tackle and one interception in a blowout 52-0 win over Oklahoma State. Hunter wrapped up the Heisman with his performance. It was his third nine reception/one interception game of the season.
Kinder's Texas Bowl Honorable mention Player of the Week - Georgia QB Carson Beck - In perhaps the game of the season, Beck drove the Dawgs back from behind for an eight overtime 44-42 win over rival Georgia Tech. Beck was 28 of 43 for 297 yards and five touchdowns in the win. Beck spread the wealth throughout the game, completing at least two passes to TEN different pass catchers.
National Team of the Week - Michigan - No one. NO ONE saw this coming. The Wolverines won three straight over Ohio State in years 2021 - 2023, but in one of the toughest years in Michigan’s recent history, it appeared to be a fait accompli that Ohio State would end that streak. It didn’t. Michigan’s defense dominated the Buckeyes in one of the most frenetic games in recent B1G history. Michigan RB Kalel Mullings ran 32 times for 116 yards and a touchdown to lead the Wolverines to an unimaginable fourth win in a row over Ryan Day’s Buckeyes.
Honorable Mention National Team of the Week - Syracuse - Miami, FL was headed to the ACC Championship game. All it had to do was beat the Orange in the JMA Dome and Cam Ward and company would head to Charlotte to play SMU. But, a funny thing happened on Saturday, though. Syracuse clipped the Canes and ended their regular season in western New York. Ironically, on the day that Ohio State lost to Michigan, former Buckeye/current Syracuse QB Kyle McCord lit up the Canes secondary, completing 26 of 36 passes for 380 yards and three touchdowns in the Cuse’s upset win.
National Player of the Week - Notre Dame S Xavier Watts - The Irish have played sublime football lately but it was the defense showing up in a big way in the 49-35 win over USC. Watts had nine tackles, a PBU, a QB hurry and a 100-yard pick six to lead the Irish defense last Saturday.
Honorable mention National Player of the Week - Penn State TE Tyler Warren - Colorado star WR Travis Hunter gets all of the multi-use attention, but Warren is just as versatile. OC Andy Kotelnicki seems to have created 1000 different ways to get Warren the ball. On Saturday in the 44-7 blowout win over Maryland, Warren completed one pass for nine yards, ran three times for over a ten yard average and caught six receptions for 68 yards and a touchdown.
Championship Week Matchups
#2 (11-1) Texas v #5 (10-2) Georgia - It’s a rematch of Texas’ only loss this season, back in Austin, when Texas was the number one team in the country. In that matchup, the Texas OL couldn’t block either Jalon Walker or Mykel Williams and the Texas offense went into shut down mode. Texas handled Texas A&M in College Station to earn a trip to Atlanta in its first year in the SEC, while Georgia is playing in its fourth straight SEC Championship game.
#8 (11-1) SMU v #17 (9-3) Clemson - It was supposed to be Miami and SMU meeting in Charlotte, but Miami, FL’s defense couldn’t stop Kyle McCord and the Syracuse offense. As a result, Dabo’s Tigers backed into this championship game, even after getting upset by state rival South Carolina in Death Valley last Saturday. SMU might be the most underrated team in the country and it gets a national opportunity to show the nation it’s worthy of top four status on Saturday night.
#1 (12-0) Oregon v. #3 (11-1) Penn State - Similar to the ACC Championship, this matchup was supposed to be Oregon v. Ohio State, but Ohio State’s defense couldn’t tackle Michigan RB Kalel Mullings in the fourth quarter. So, it’s an intriguing Penn State team stepping into the void in Indianapolis to take on the Ducks, the only undefeated team in FBS. Both teams should have a spot in the playoffs, but a win will lock up a first round bye.
#15 (10-2) Arizona State v. #16 (10-2) Iowa State - At the start of the season, no one could’ve imagined that either of these teams would play for a Big 12 title. Of all of the various matchups that COULD’VE taken place in Arlington, this one was not high up on the “yeah, it could happen” scale. But, BUT, I love these two coaches and these teams are more than deserving of being in Arlington for this game.
Kinder's Texas Bowl Potential teams
Big 12 candidates
(8-4) Baylor - Dave Aranda’s squad is one of the hottest teams in the nation and a trip to Houston would be super fun because…the Bears OFFENSE is lights out…FIVE Ws in a row.
(8-4) Texas Tech - The Red Raiders were in the bowl just two years ago and it was entertaining as all get out. Bring ‘em back!
(8-4) TCU - The Horned Frogs were supposed to be in the Texas Bowl in 2020, but COVID…so let’s bring them back four years later. Like TT and Baylor, the Horned Frogs can put up points in bunches.
(8-4) Kansas State - the Purple Wildcats have dominated the Texas Bowl in recent trips and this fan base will travel to Houston.
SEC candidates
(8-4) LSU - Any time that the Texas Bowl can have a shot at LSU but with eight wins and more than likely three SEC teams in the playoff, it might be tough to land LSU.
(78-5) Florida - The Gators got to bowl eligibility last week, beat FSU to end the regular season and have a true freshman star QB from just outside the Houston area. I’m intrigued.
(6-6) Arkansas - It was supposed to be Arkansas-TCU in 2020, so I’m all for bringing it back in 2024…without the COVID. Hogs fans seem to love Houston and that works for me.
(6-6) Oklahoma - The Texas Bowl has never truly had a shot at the Sooners, but now in the SEC, Oklahoma could be a fit, but will the fans travel to see the Sooners after a tough year?
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